John Fink rolled into our deer camp in Goodsoil, Saskatchewan, way up at the top of the whitetail world where 300-pound large-racked giants lurk in the bush. Weeks earlier, my buddy had told me he had a secret surprise for me. John set his gun case on a table, opened it slowly and revealed the next generation of Remington bolt-action hunting rifle.

“The Model 783,” said John, as he stuck the rifle in my hands. “What do you think?”

I am a Remington Model 700 man, and an especially big fan of the 700 CDL version. This new, black-stocked rifle wasn’t as sleek and classy as the walnut 700s I’ve been shooting for many years, but it looked okay. Practical, functional and no frills are the words that first came to mind. I worked the bolt—smooth enough—and checked that the chamber was unloaded. Aimed high out a window and peered through the Trijicon scope. The rifle had good heft, feel and balance, and pointed nicely.

“I think I want to shoot it ASAP,” I told John, the senior product manager for rifles for Remington. We loaded up and headed for the range.